The Queen Next Door: Aretha Franklin, An Intimate Portrait (Painted Turtle)

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About The Queen Next Door: Aretha Franklin, An Intimate

Product Description "Aretha was private. I respected this and she trusted me." Linda Solomon met Aretha Franklin in 1983 when she was just beginning her career as a photojournalist and newspaper columnist. Franklin's brother and business manager arranged for Solomon to capture the singer's major career events-just as she was coming back home to Detroit from California-while Franklin requested that Solomon document everything else. Everything. And she did just that. What developed over these years of photographing birthday and Christmas parties in her home, annual celebrity galas, private backstage moments during national awards ceremonies, photo shoots with the iconic pink Cadillac, and more was a friendship between two women who grew to enjoy and respect one another.The Queen Next Door: Aretha Franklin, An Intimate Portrait is a book full of firsts as Solomon was invited not only to capture historical events in Aretha's music career showcasing Detroit but to join in with the Franklin family's most intimate and cherished moments in her beloved hometown. From performance rehearsals with James Brown to off-camera shenanigans while filming a music video with the Rolling Stones, from her first television special to her first time performing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, to her last performance with her sisters at her father's church and her son's college graduation celebration. In the book's afterword, Sabrina Vonne' Owens, Franklin's niece, honors her aunt, a woman who was an overwhelming supporter of civil rights, women's rights, and fundraising campaigns that helped to benefit her hometown. There was a time in her career-when Franklin was more in demand than ever before-when she insisted that if someone wanted her to perform, they had to come to Detroit. During this time all of her major concerts, national television specials, music videos, and commercials would happen in Detroit. Aretha Franklin showed her respect for the people in the city who championed her from the very beginning when she started singing as a young girl in the church choir.Franklin used to say, "I am the lady next door when I am not on stage." The Queen Next Door offers fans a personaland unseen look at an extraordinary woman in her most natural moments-both regal and intimate-and highlightsher devotion to her family and her hometown Detroit-"forever and ever." Review Aretha and I grew up together. She was the sister I never had. Her parents were parents of both of us. She is more than a Queen of Soul. She's a Queen of Caring, a Queen of Social Justice. She stood with Dr. King and she stood for Nelson Mandela. This beautiful book captures her essence. (Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Jr. founder and president of Rainbow PUSH Coalition 2019-06-17) Linda Solomon is a Michigan treasure. She photographs celebrities and friends with equal enthusiasm, all the while devoting much of her time teaching others to enjoy the profession she loves. (James J. Blanchard former Governor for the State of Michigan 2019-06-17) I feel like I've known Linda all my life. She intuitively seems to know how to catch that déjà vu moment with her camera lens-giving the pictures a unique and special touch like no other. She amazes me. (Kim Novak screen actress and visual artist 2019-06-17) Linda's got 'it'"-what a great artist! (Tony Bennett entertainer 2019-06-17) To most, Aretha Franklin is an icon. But to Linda, she was also a friend. And Linda's intimate photographs of Aretha reveal the true lady beyond the legend. What a gift for all her fans! (Meredith Vieira television journalist and host 2019-06-17) A picture is worth a thousand words, and with Linda no words were needed with she and Aretha. A powerful, emotional journey of photos that are beyond words and inspires us all to 'say a little prayer.' Thank you, Linda Solomon! (Isiah Thomas Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and Detroit Pistons champion 2019-06-17) Her voice, her presence lives and breathes in her music